All-SEC Preseason Baseball Honors

February 15, 2012

Barry Allen
SEBaseball.com Baseball Staff Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Southeastern Conference has proven over time to be the best baseball conference in the land. The league has won the last three College World Series championships and boasts countless players with "star power" heading into this weekend's season openers.

After announcing its preseason baseball poll on Tuesday, SEBaseball.com is ready to look into the future once again as it announces its 2012 preseason All-SEC teams, including the Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and the inaugural Al-SEC Newcomer squad.

Florida junior catcher Mike Zunino is the 2012 preseason SEC Player of the Year. He was named the 2011 SEC Player of the Year and was named to the 2011 SEC All-Defensive team. He hit .371 with 19 home runs and 71 RBI for the Gators.

"Everyone knows how good is defensively," UF head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "He hits in the lineup behind Preston Tucker, who has broken a lot of records at Florida. He has the intangibles.

"The mark of a really good catcher is on who has the ability to make the pitchers better. He demands a lot from them without saying a lot. He makes our pitchers better. He makes them pitch better, concentrate more and demand more from themselves. I expect him to have a great year for us."

Arkansas junior right hander DJ Baxendale has been named the 2012 preseason SEC Pitcher of the Year. A preseason All-American, Baxendale posted a 10-2 record with a 1.58 ERA in 19 games for the Razorbacks last season. He struck out 77 batters in 85 1/3 innings and limited opponents to a .226 batting average.

"Baxendale leads our pitching staff," Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. "He is our team leader and one of our captains. He is a really hard-working, dedicated kid and an outstanding student. He's got good stuff, but he probably has better makeup and work ethic. He really brings our pitching staff up in the way he leads."

South Carolina freshman left fielder Tanner English is the 2012 preseason SEC Newcomer of the Year. A native of Murrel Inlet, S.C. and graduate of St. James High School, English is speedster in the Gamecocks outfield.

"English is the type of base runner that just doesn't come along very often," South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner said. "He is the fastest kid we have ever had and it's not close. He can really, really run. When he gets on base, it's a different deal with the pitcher, catcher and the hitter. There is pressure out there and he is a threat to go anytime."

South Carolina led the way with six overall selections, including two first-team picks, one second-team honoree and three all-newcomer selections. Florida was next with five, followed by Arkansas with four honorees.

The complete 2012 SEBaseball.com Preseason All-SEC Teams are as follows:

First Team All-SEC
C- Mike Zunino, Florida
1B- Christian Walker, South Carolina
2B- Levi Hyams, Georgia
3B- Thomas McCarthy, Kentucky
SS- Anthony Gomez, Vanderbilt
OF- Preston Tucker, Florida
OF- Tony Kemp, Vanderbilt
OF- Taylor Dugas, Alabama
DH- Brian Johnson, Florida
SP- Michael Roth, South Carolina
SP- Hudson Randall, Florida
SP- DJ Baxendale, Arkansas
RP- Tyler Maloof, Georgia

Second-Team All-SEC
C- Luke Maile, Kentucky
1B- Dominic Ficociello, Arkansas
2B- Riley Reynolds, Vanderbilt
3B- Tyler Hanover, LSU
SS- Alex Yarbrough, Ole Miss
OF- Ja'Coby Jones, LSU
OF- Jacob Morris, Arkansas
OF- Mike Yastrzemski, Vanderbilt
DH- Matt Snyder, Ole Miss
SP- Kevin Gausman, LSU
SP- Michael Palazzone, Georgia
SP- Karsten Whitson, Florida
RP- Caleb Reed, Miss. State

Newcomer All-SEC
C- Grayson Greiner, South Carolina
1B- Zack Luther, Tennessee
2B- Kenny Roberts, Alabama
3B- Andrew Mistone, Ole Miss
SS- Joey Pancake, South Carolina
OF- Tanner English, South Carolina
OF- Ryan Tella, Auburn
OF- Cameron Flynn, Kentucky
DH- John Gatlin, Ole Miss
P- Michael Gunn, Arkansas
P- Johnny Magliozzi, Florida
P- Samuel Davis, Tennessee

Player of the Year: Mike Zunino, Florida
Pitcher of the Year: DJ Baxendale, Arkansas
Newcomer of the Year: Tanner English, South Carolina